Releasable slide fastener slider



J. R. SCHUCHARDT RELEASABLE SLIDE FASTENEIR SLIDER Aug. 24, 1954 Filed April 17, 1952 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 24, 1954 RELEASABLE SLIDE FASTENER, SLIDER John It. Schuchardt, Bayside, N. Y., assignor to Dollin Co., Irvington, N. J.,

New Jersey a corporation of Application April ll, 1952, Serial No. 282,759

4 Claims.

This invention relates to slide fasteners and, in particular, to the provision of a new and improved slider for slide fasteners which may be readily and conveniently manually released from its normal close engagement with the fastener to loosen its engagement therewith when and if the slider should become untracked, jammed, or caught in the fastener or in objects or materials attached thereto whereby the slider may be released from the obstructions to its normal operation and/or removed from the supporting fastener members, reattached to the fastener at its lower end and started over. i

It is an object of this invention to provide such a releasable slider which is of extremely simple construction comprising only three parts, which may be economically manufactured by casting, molding, forging, stamping and other methods or any suitable and, desirable combinations of these methods in any known materials or combinations of materials which are suitable for such sliders.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a slider comprising complementary front and rear wings or wing members and a planar or plate-like pull tab or member wherein the pull tab or member, in addition to providing means for operating the slider in conventional manner to close and open a slide fastener, normally locks the wings together in predetermined spaced operative relation but'which is manually operable to release the wings for spreading thereof to accomplish freeing of a caught slider and/or removal and restarting of the slider on the fastener. i

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a slider wherein the dual purpose pull tab or member is an integral plate-like member having a bifurcated inner end portion terminatin in oppositely directed normally spaced integral trunnions which normally look the slider wings in operative predeterminedly spaced relation but which may be moved together by transverse manual compression of the inner end por tion of the pull tab to release the wings or wing members from their normal locked, operative relation.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken with the drawing which forms a part thereof and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front or top plan view of a preferred form of a slider according to my invention as applied to one conventional form of slide 2 fastener provided with interdigitating scoops or fastener members;

Fig. 2 is an elevation, in longitudinal section, of the slider shown in Fig. 1, taken along the plane designated by the line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a compound transverse section of the slider of Figs. 1 and 2, taken alon the planes indicated by the line 3-3 in Fig. 1 with the wings locked together in their normal operative position;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the slider parts in released position;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken along the plane indicated by the line 5-5 in Fig. 3 and showing the slider wings locked in normal. operative position by the pull tab trunnions in their normal position;

Fig. 6 is a view generally similar to Fig. 5 but taken substantially along the plane indicated fi-ii in Fig. 4 and showin the pull tab trunnions in their wing releasing position of Fig. 4;

Fig. 'i is a front or top plan view of the front slider wing and showing details of the sleeve providing telescopic connection with the slider neck or neck member and the rear Wing and details of the slot which cooperates with the pull tab trunnions to provide for releasable locking of the wings in normal operative position; and

Fig. 8 is a front or top plan view of the rear slider wing and showing details of the Wedge or neck of the slider which is integral therewith.

As shown in the drawing, the slider comprises only three parts; namely a rear wing or wing member 20, with integral forwardly projecting wedge forming neck or neck portion terminating in a reduced projection of noncircular section which contains a transverse channel or bore 30, and a pull tab or bail member 22 having its trunnions it supported for free rotation and axial inward'movement in the channel or bore 30.

Although sliders embodying the principles of this invention are capable of use in slide operated separable fasteners of Widely varying types, one preferred embodiment generally designated I6 is herein illustrated, for the sake of convenience, as applied to one common form of slide operated separable fastener commonly known as a zipper. This zipper comprises a pair of complementary stringers l5 and it each formed by a flexible tape H with an edge reinforcement or head Ill supporting a row of predeterminedly spaced interdigitating fastener members or scoops l9 which are progressively engaged and disengaged by longitudinal movement of the slider H) to close and/or open the fastener. Conventional top and bottom stops or end fittings, not shown, may be provided for limiting longitudinal movement of the slider H1 in oppoite directions on the rows of fastener members or scoops H) of the stringers as is conventional in the art.

As stated above, the slider ||1 is formed by only three parts; namely therearwing :20, the front wing or wing member 2| and the pull tab or bail member 22.

The rear wing or wing member 20 comprises a planar or plate-like portion 23 having its lower side edges bounded by forwardly projecting, upwardly diverging side flanges 24which cooperate with the side surfaces 2'! of the'integralforwardly projecting neck or wedge member 26 of the rear wing 20 (and with similar flanges on the front wing 2|, hereinafter described) to form a guide channel for the rows of scoops or fastener memhers I!) of the stringers I and I6.

.An :integral boss-nr projection 28 of non-circular section extends forwardly from the portion of the'neckcor wedge member'25 and at its junc-- tion therewith forms a step or seat 29 upon which the front wing 2| restsand against which it is clampingly retained bythe trunnions of the pull tab 22, as will hereinafter appear. A cross-bore 33 extends transversely through the boss portion 2.8 for receiving :the ,pull tab trunnions as, and for a purpose, which will also hereinafter appear.

The front wing 2| is similar though obverse with respect to the rear wing 26, having a platelike or planar :portion 3| corresponding with the above described portion 23 of the rear wing 25? and of'similar shape, with side flanges 32 projecting rearwardly or inwardly from the sides of its lower end in alignment with the side flanges 24 with which they correspond, and cooperate with the wedge formed by the side surfaces 2? of the neck or wedgemember 26 to form an upwardly diverging, substantially Y-shaped channel in which the rows of scoops or fastener members IQ of stringers l5 and it are confined-as shown in Fig. 1. A suitably located locking pin aperture 33 extends from the front through the platelike portion 3|, as .is conventional.

Adjacent its upper end, the front wing 2| is provided witha non-circular aperture or bore 34 of cross-section similar to that of the boss portion or projection 28 'upon which it is axially slidable so that the .platelike portion 3| of front wing 2| surrounding the aperture 34 may be seated firmly upon the step or seat 29, described above.

Crossing the non-circular aperture E l transversely and aligned with the cross-bore 30 in the boss or projection is an elongated slot or aperture 35 of such extent that the trunnions 36 of the pull tab 22 in their normal position cannot pass therethrough as shown in Figs, 1, 3 and 5 but can pass through the slot 35 when compressed -or forced together by the exertion of squeezing force-upon the pull tab 22 as indicated at F-F in Fig. 4. This permits the aperture 34 to move telescopically .or outwardly on the boss or projection until the outer surface of the portion 3| of the outer wing 2| meets the shoulders 38 on the pull tab 22 as shown in Fig. 4.

The pull tab or bail member 22 is of platelike form and provided with a bifurcated inner end portion, thelegs orfurcations of which terminate in a pair of oppositely, inwardly extending trunnions 36 of predetermined length in order that when the trunnions are in normal position (Figs. 1, 3,.and 5.) their length (crosswise of the slider) shall exceed the length of the slot 35 in the same direction whereby to prevent accidental displacement of the wings from the position of Figs. 1, 3 and 5. However, the length of the trunnions 31B is such that their combined length shall be less than the length of the slot 35 when they are squeezed together (see F-F, Fig. 4) so that the innerend portion'of thepull tab 22 can pass into the slot 35 to an extent-determined by the shoulders 38 provided on the pull tab 22 for that purpose. (Fig. 4.)

Optionally a marginal outwardly projecting sleeve 39 may be provided to surround the apere ture to increase the bearing surface provided between wing 2| and boss or projection 28 in the interest of rigidity in the position of Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5. .As shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 7, this sleeve 39 is interrupted by the above described slot 35 which extends also completely through the wing 2|.

AsshowninFigs. 1-4, the pull tab 22 mayalso be provided with a conventional locking pin or member 4i! suitably located thereon for penetration through the aperture 33 in the front wing 2| into locking engagement between adjacent scoops H) of the stringer l5. (Fig. 1.)

In-assembling the slider, the front wing 2| is aligned with rear wing .20 and the aperture-34 engaged with the-complementary exterior surface of the boss orprojection-28 and the wings moved together until the portion 3| of the front wing 2| surrounding aperture 3 5 is seated on step or seat 29. The pull tab 22 is then attached.

For convenience "of assembling, the boss "portion or projection may be provided with an upwardly open channelinstea'd of the closed bore 3.) with upwardly projecting portions at opposite sides which may be forced or bent down until their ends meet as indicated at 28a in Fig. 2, to form a closedcross-bore as illustrated in Fig. 9 of my co-pending application for U. S. Letters Patent'serial Number 282,760, filed April 17, 1952.

Alternatively, a suitable fiat (not shown) may be providedon each trunnion 36 which flats will engage the front surfaces of the front wing 2| when the pull tab 22 is in a position substantially diametrically opposed'to that of Fig. 2, a position 'never encountered when the slider is operatively attached to stringers such as 15 and H5, and will permit easy insertion 'of the trunnions into the cross-bore 30.

While .the pull tab or bail member 22 is generally conventional in form, it is split centrally for a substantial part of its length to form legs or furcations of sufilcient length to provide the resiliency therein necessary for convenient manipulation of the trunnions 36 thereof from the position of Figs. 1,3 and 5 to that of Figs. 4 and 6.

.The cross-sectional shape of the boss or projection 28 andaperture 36 (and sleeve .39 where provided) may be varied withinrather widelimits; for instance, it may be triangular, rectangular, polygonal and otherwise non-circular in form or they may be so rendered by the use of splines or keys and key-ways etc. in order topre" vent misalignment of the wings 2| and 22. Likewise theheight of the sleeve 39 maybe varied as desired.

With the slider parts in normal relative position as shown in Figs. 1-3 and 5, raising of the pull tab 22 from the position of .Fig. 1 releases the slider for free longitudinal movement with respect to-the stringers l5 and It for closing'and opening the fastener.

In the event that the slider should become caught, blocked or jammed or the flanges 24, 24 and 32, 32 become untracked from the supporting rows of engaged scoops or fastener members, application of transverse squeezing force to the inner, bifurcated end of the pull tab or member 22 will cause the trunnions 36, 36 to move inwardly together from the locking position of Figs. 3 and to the unlocked position of Figs. 4 and 6, whereby the trunnions and adjacent furcations of the pull tab or member 22- can pass through the slot 35 to the extent permitted by the shoulders 38 on the furcations as shown in Fig. 4.

With the slider parts in the position of Figs. 4 and 6 the stringers I5 and I6 may be pulled apart to permit the fastener members or scoops l9 to escape from the guide channel formed by the flanges 24, 24 and 32, 32 and the wedge surfaces 21, 21 whereupon the slider I2 is separated from the stringers. If desired the stringers I5 and I6 may be pulled apart throughout the length of the rows of fastener members or scoops l9 and the slider, with parts. in the released or expanded relation of Figs. 4 and 6 may then be placed in proper relative position with respect to the fastener members and the wings squeezed together to the position of Figs. 1-3, whereupon the trunnions 36 will automatically spring out to locking position (Figs. 1-3, 5).

It is, of course, to be understood that the above description is merely illustrative of the principles of this invention and in nowise limiting and that I desire to comprehend within this invention all modifications included within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A releasable slide fastener of the class described comprising a pair of similar obverse plate-like wing members with oppositely inwardly projecting upwardly diverging marginal side flanges and adapted normally to be locked in predetermined spaced parallelism, an integral neck member projecting from one of said wing members toward the other wing member and forming a wedge member cooperating with said flanged wing members when secured in said predetermined spaced parallelism to form a fastener member guide channel therebetween, said wedge member having an integral projection of non-circular cross-section extending therefrom and forming therewith a seat forming step engageable with said other wing to define the normal operative parallel spacing of said wing members, said projection having a cross-bore ex- 6 tending transversely therethrough, said other wing having a non-circular aperture complementary with and slidably engaging the exterior of said integral projection extending from said wedge member with aperture means extending from said last named non-circular aperture in substantial alignment with said crossbore, at one side at least, and a plate-like pull member having normally yieldably spread integral trunnion means cooperating with said cross-bore for pivotally connecting said pull member with said neck member for movement of said slider by said pull member while normally extending beyond said aperture means and look-- ing said wing members in said predetermined parallelism, said trunnion means being manually compressible selectively, upon occurrence of catching of said slider to pass through said aperture means and release said wing members from said locked position for increase of their spacing.

2. A releasable slide fastener slider as defined in claim 1, said last named aperture means comprising atransverse slot of predetermined length substantially aligned with said cross-bore and extending from said non-circular aperture at both sides and said trunnion means comprising a pair of opposed normally spread trunnions of greater transverse extent than said transverse slot when normally spread but capable of being moved together by transverse compression of the inner end portion of said pullmember suiiiciently to extend through said transverse slot and permit increase of the spacing of said wing members.

3. A releasable slide fastener slider as defined in claim 2, and shoulder means on said pull member cooperating with said transverse slot when said trunnions extend tli'erethrough predeterminedly to limit the increase of spacing of said wing members when released from said locked position.

4. A releasable slide fastener slider as defined in claim 1, and an integral sleeve surrounding said non-circular aperture and closely engaging said projection for enhancing the rigidity of the body formed by said wing members when locked together in operative predetermined parallel spaced relation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,304,082 Gerstman Dec. 8, 1942 2,486,401 Gerstman Nov. 1, 1949 2,495,176 Nissen Jan. 17, 1950 2,526,653 Gerstman Oct. 24, 1950 

